The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-14
WHITE SLAVERY IN COLONIAL TINES


Many persons who consider them
selves familiar with tho history OF tins
country are not aware that in the lass
century white men, women. and chill
dren we're held in bondage; thnt the
colonial laws in favor of such servitude
were as explicit and severe a. were those
In support OF negro slavery. Such
white persons owing personal service
TO individual masters were generally
known M "term slaves" though their
legal status was represented by the
word 'redemptioner."
Isaac Weld, Jr.. In his book OF trav-
els in America, published in the last
century. asserts that II was the custom
of shipmasers at Rotterdam and the
Hanse towns to invelgle the people on
to their vessels. under promise OF free
passage to America. On reaching the
colonies announcement of the arrival OF
mechanics ard laborers would be made,
and persons in want OF such would Hook
to the ships, and the poor Germans
would be sold to the highest bidders,
the captains pocketng the proceeds.
Redemptioners constituted in the
early part of the eighteenth century a
peculiar feature of colonial anxiety.
They were recruited from among all
manner of people in the old world,
and through this channel Europe emp
tied upon America not only the vir-
tuous poor and oppressed OF her
population. but the Migrants, fell
ons. and the dregs of her communities.
There was thus established among the
first settlers society that, in many
places, was almost imbued with NOR
al pestilence. Among the redemption
ers, however, were fair proport on OF
sturdy souls, strong in purpose and en-
deavor, who appreciated the great OPP
portun tv created for them by this
complete change Of life and country.
At the expiration of their term OF serv-
ice many, by thrift and industry, elevat-
ed themselves to respectable positions.
and were absorbed in the middle class.
There were two kinds of redemp-
TONERS "indented servants" who had
bound themselves to their masters for
a term of years previous to leaving the
old country. and free willers,' who,
being without money and DESTROYS of
emigrating, agreed with the captains
of the ships to allow themselves or their
families to be sold on arrival for the
captains advantage, and thus repay
cost of passage and other expenses.
The former indented servants-were
often trapped into the r engagements by
corrupt agents at home, who persuaded
them all under false promises OF tender
and humane treatment, and assurances
of remunerative employment at expira-
ton of service, which would insure
a competent provision for the remain
der of their days. The emigrants often
discovered on arrival that the advan-
tages to be obtained in America had
been painted by the agents in much too
alluring colors. Frequently their
masters forced them to most rigid la
Dor, and exercised an unnecessary
severity.
The free. willers suffered even worse
treatment at the hands of shipmasters
and agents They were led to believe
that on arrival in America their SER
services would be eagerly sole ted bv
persons who would gladly pay the cost
OF their passages; VIII CHI being only f9.
the emgrants would soon be able to
repay, and thus secure their liberty and
ali the enjoyment and prosperity that
the new country offered to adventurer'.
Agreements were entered into where
by these deluded ones bound them
selves, that il. on arrival. they did not
succeed within certain number of
DAYS in securing employment on their
own terms, they could be sold for a
term of wears TO defray the charges for
their passages. Alas! the free H.
ers," tn rare exceptions, had rude
awakening on reaching the colonies.
Under their agreements the captains
had a legal lien on the persons OF the
emigrants until the ship charges were
paid; consequently they were not al
lowed to 90 on shore, but were eX.
posed to view on deck to the people
who came on board in search of ser.
wants Except in cases of extraordinary
qualifications. very few OF them were
happy enough to make their own stip-
ulations. and they found themselves
sold for several years of tedious labor
and servltude.
The terms and conditions of service
differed in different colonies Among
the archives of the Pennsylvania His.
torical Society are some original bonds
or agreements. between ship captain'
and redemptioners From them w
learn that the usual price pad in that
colony for three years service was Ell
Is. and Cd. When his time had ex
pired a man was entitled TO receive tive
suits of clothes, grubbing hoe, weed
ing hoe, and new AK. Children sole